Lantern holder

ABSTRACT

A support for a pair of lanterns of the Coleman type comprising a base provided on its upper surface with a clamping device for clamping the lantern in an upright position, the base being rotatably mounted on a sub-base in turn mounted for tilting movement on a c-clamp for clamping the support to an associated supporting member such as a boat gunwhale, wall or the like with a reflector mounted on the base for directing the light from the lantern in one direction.

I Umted States 1 Patent 1191 [111 3,745,329 Runey, Jr. 1 July 10, 1973 [541 LANTERN HOLDER 1,059,321 4/1913 Smith 248/310 Inventor: George YJ 1485 Hindman 2,655,337 10/1953 Dtesfeld 240/52 R X Avenue, Mt. Pleasant, SC. 29464 Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews filed: 1 1971 Assistant Examiner-Richard M. Sheer 21 APPL 203 1 9 Attorney-T. Russell Foster [52] US. Cl 240/52.1, 240/52 R, 240/57.1, ABSTRACT 51 I Cl A support for a pair of lanterns of the Coleman type l 2 v 21/08- comprising a base provided on its upper surface with a 1 o are l 5 5 clamping device for clamping the lantern in an upright 248/310 position, the base being rotatably mounted on a subbase in turn mounted for tilting movement on a c- [56] References Clted clamp for clamping the support to an associated sup- UNITED STATES PATENTS porting member such as a boat gunwhale, wall or the 2,813,196 11/1957 Dempsey 240/52 R X like with a reflector mounted on the base for directing 1;; lukl: 5484310 X the light from the lantern in one direction. un am 48 310x 1,174,700 3/1916 Eastman 240/57.l 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures Patented July 10, 1973 IMVENTOR GEORGE P. RUNEY, JR. BY MW- FIGI ATTORNEY LANTERN HOLDER This invention refers to lantern holders and more particularly to an adjustable support for supporting a lantern on boat gunwhales and the like.

A type of lantern in widespread use today particularly where electrical power is not available is that type which utilizes a combustible fuel such as gasoline, kerosene or the like which through modern design provides a substantial amount of illumination. One type of such lantern is known as a Coleman lantern which is very popular due to its ready portability and high intensity of illumination for use by hunters, campers, fishermen, etc.. For instance, one type of fishing known as flounder gigging or graining requires the use of illuminating means for the detection of flounder on river and creek bottoms, such graining being normally conducted at night. It is a common practice to provide suitable means for securing illuminating means such as a flashlight, lantern or the like to the gunwhales of the boat from which flounder graining is carried out. Such present day supports are not infrequently difficul't to attach to a desired location on the boat and are quite bulky and expensive. Furthermore, in such fishing activities or any outdoor activities for that matter where illumination is required, it is highly desirable that such light be directed in one direction since to dissipate the illumination in all directions reduces. the amount of available light .on any one specific location. This defi ciency is particularly significant in flounder gigging since it is necessary that the light be directed downwardly in one direction onto the water and concentrated to a large degree for proper enjoyment of the sport. Not only are present day lantern supports difficult to adjust but with the wide variety of boats in use, clamping of such a support to the boat gunwhale frequently poses a problem.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a new and novel support fora lantern.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel support for a lantern which is readily portable and which may be secured in a simple and easy manner to a supporting member such as a boat gunwhale. i

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel lantern support which is arranged to support one or a plurality of lanterns in a secure manner on any suitable supporting member for outdoor use such as by hunters, fishermen, campers or the like.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel support for a lantern which is readily adjustable so as to project the illumination from the lantern in any selected direction.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a support for a lantern which is arranged to support lanterns of any size throughout a wide range, which is simple and inexpensive in construction, may be easily attached to a supporting member and easily adjusted to a desired illuminating position and which is highly resisitant to deterioration from weather, physical abuse and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The objects stated above and other related objects in this invention are accomplished by the provision of a sustantially flat base member on the upper surface of which releasable clamping means are provided for clamping a lantern in an upright illuminating position with the base member being rotatably mounted on a sub-base member in overlying relationship therewith. The sub-base member is pivotally mounted on releasable clamping means arranged for clamping engagement with an associated supporting member in overlying relationship therewith for tilting movement of the sub-base member together with the base member into a selected tilted postion with releasable means for retaining the sub-base member in the selected tilted position.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation ma be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a lantern support constructed in accordance with the invention in an operative position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the lantern support of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now the the drawings and FIG. 1 in particu lar, there is shown a support constructed in accordance with the invention and designated generally by the letter S. As will be explained hereinafter, the support S is arranged to be mounted on any suitable associated sup porting member such as a boat gunwhale, fence, etc. designated generally in FIG. 1 by the letter F. The support S is arranged to support one or a plurality of lanterns such as a lantern of the Coleman type having a base 10 and designated generally in FIG. 1 by the letter L, two of such lanterns being shown in the illustrated embodiment.

As specifically illustrative of the invention, the lantern support S comprises a substantially flat base member 11 having na upper surface 11a which, in the illustrated embodiment, is of circular shape. Means are provided for releasably clamping one or more lanterns L to the upper surface 11a of the base member 11. More specifically, as shown best in FIG. v3, the lantern clamping means include a stationary plate member 12 suitable secured to the base member upper surface 1 1a and having a pair of laterally spaced arcuate recesses 13, 14 for accommodating a portion of the base 10 of the lanterns L. It should be understood that if the support S is for only a single lantern L, only a single recess is provided.

The lantern clamping means also includes a movable plate member 16 mounted on the base member upper surface 11a in spaced relationship with the stationary plate member 12. The plate member 16 is provided with a pair of arcuate recesses l7, 18 arranged in oppositely disposed relationship with the recesses 13, 14 respectively in the stationary plate member 12. Thus, the arcuate recesses form cooperating pairs l3, l7 and 14, 18 for clamping engagement with diametrically opposed portions of the lantern base 10 disposed within the recesses.

Means are provided for releasably securing the movable plate ember 16 in the clamping position which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a pair of threaded bolts 21, 22 which extend through slots 23, 24 in the base member 11 and suitable openings in the movable plate member 16 as shown best in FIGS. 1, 3. The movable plate member 16 is therefore mounted for movement in the direction of the double arrow I into a selected clamping position with the plate member 12 by movement of the bolts 21, 22 in the slots 23, 24 and thereafter clamped in the lantern clamping position by means such as wing nuts 26, 27 respectively.

In the preferred embodiment, the lantern clamping means also include releasable strap means such as a spring 29 having ends arranged t be secured to the base member upper surface 11a by means such as eyelets 30. The springs 29 extend over the lantern bases so as to urge the laterns downwardly into supported engagement with the base member upper surface 11a.

The support S includes a sub-base member 31 and means are provided for rotatably mounting the base member 11 on the sub-base member in overlying relationship therewith. In the illustrated embodiment, an upstanding post 32 is provided on the upper surface of the sub-base member 31 which is arranged to be inserted within a suitable aperture 33 in the base member 11. The base member 11 is therefore freely rotatable into any selected rotary position relative to the subbase member 31 on the post 32.

The support S also includes releasable clamping means for clamping engagement with the associated supporting member F such as the boat gunwhale. In the illustrated embodiment, one, preferably a pair, of C- clamps 34 are provided which are of conventional construction having a U-shaped body 36 and a threaded rod 37 for mounting the C-clamp 34 to the upper edge of the gunwhale F as shown best in FIG. 2.

The support S also includes means for pivotally mounting the sub-base member 31 on the clamping means or C-clamps 34 in overlying relationship therewith'for tilting movement of the sub-base member 31 together with the base member 11 into a selected tilted position. More specifically, each of the C-clamps 34 are provided with an ear 38 which is arranged to cooperate with an ear 39 on the underside of the base member 31. The ears 38, 39 are arranged for pivotal engagement relative to each other by means of a pivot pin 41. Thus, the sub-base member 31 together with the portions of the support S supported on the sub-base member may be tilted about the pivot pin 41 and means are provided for releasably retaining the sub-base member 31 in the selected tilted'position. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot pin 41 is suitably threaded to accommodate a thumb nut 42 which may be tightened to clamp the ears 38, 39 together in the selected tilted position.

In order to direct the illumination from the lantern L in one direction, reflector means such as an arcuate reflector 43 is suitably mounted on the base member 11 so as to direct the illumination of the lantern L in the direction of the arrow R. Also, if desired, a handle 44 may be secured to the top edge of the reflector 43 so that the entire support S may be easily carried to its place of use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A support for a pair of lanterns each having a base comprising, in combination, a substantially flat base member having an upper surface, releasable strap means mounted on said base member for overlying engagement with a pair of lanterns to yieldingly urge the lanterns downwardly into supported engagement with the upper surface of said base member, a stationary plate member secured to the upper surface of saidvbase member, said stationary plate member having a pair of arcuate recesses arranged to accommodate a portion of a pair of lantern base, a movable plate member mounted on the upper surface of said base member in spaced relationship with said stationary plate member, said movable plate member having a pair of arcuate recesses in oppositely disposed relationship with said arcuate recesses in said stationary plate member and movable into a clamping position for clamping engagement with diametrically opposed portions of a pair of lantern bases within said recesses and means for releasably securing said movable plate member in said clamping position, a sub-base member having an upper surface, an upstanding post on the upper surface of said sub-base member, said base member being mounted on the upper end of said post for freely rotatable movement of said base member into a selected rotary position, a C-clamp for clamping engagement with an associated supporting member, at least one pair of ears depending from said sub-base member and at least one pair of ears upstanding from said C-clamp for cooperative engagement with said pair of ears on said sub-base member, a pivot pin extending through each cooperating pair of ears for tilting movement of said sub-base member together with said base member, a thumbnut on each of said pivot pins for clamping each cooperating said pair of ears together in a selected tilted position of said sub-base member and said base member and a single upstanding, arcuately shaped reflector mounted on said base member adjacent a pair of lanterns supported on said base member. 

1. A support for a pair of lanterns each having a base comprising, in combination, a substantially flat base member having an upper surface, releasable strap means mounted on said base member for overlying engagement with a pair of lanterns to yieldingly urge the lanterns downwardly into supported engagement with the upper surface of said base member, a stationary plate member secured to the upper surface of said base member, said stationary plate member having a pair of arcuate recesses arranged to accommodate a portion of a pair of lantern bases, a movable plate member mounted on the upper surface of said base member in spaced relationship with said stationary plate member, said movable plate member having a pair of arcuate recesses in oppositely disposed relationship with said arcuate recesses in said stationary plate member and movable into a clamping position for clamping engagement with diametrically opposed portions of a pair of lantern bases within said recesses and means for releasably securing said movable plate member in said claMping position, a sub-base member having an upper surface, an upstanding post on the upper surface of said sub-base member, said base member being mounted on the upper end of said post for freely rotatable movement of said base member into a selected rotary position, a C-clamp for clamping engagement with an associated supporting member, at least one pair of ears depending from said sub-base member and at least one pair of ears upstanding from said C-clamp for cooperative engagement with said pair of ears on said sub-base member, a pivot pin extending through each cooperating pair of ears for tilting movement of said sub-base member together with said base member, a thumb nut on each of said pivot pins for clamping each cooperating pair of ears together in a selected tilted position of said sub-base member and said base member and a single upstanding, arcuately shaped reflector mounted on said base member adjacent a pair of lanterns supported on said base member. 